trying to be objective, and keeping the 70's out of it......
just looking at the Steelers and Patriots of this decade, who do you see 15 years from now as being Hall of Famers from the 2 champions. For the Steelers I can see Bettis,Cowher, Ward, Roethlisburger, Polamulo. You guys fill in the blanks as you know more about the potential of your younger players. For the Patriots I have Belichick, Brady, Seymour, Law, Vinatieri, Dillon (IF he has 2 more big seasons) and the "if they reach their potential" younger players being Wilfork, Watson, and Branch.

I agree with everything you have posted about the Steelers, adding in that probably one of our young Corners will blossom into a Pro Bowl corner. Ike and McFadden definately have possibilities. And depending on how long Willie Parker plays and produces crazy 75 yard runs, and if he gets back to the Superbowl and busts off a crazy game, he could be in there as well. Plus, you forgot Alan Faneca, one of the best Guards in the league, if not the best. And coach wise, everyone forgets about Bad Word Lebeau and possibly Hoak. They've been great coaches.

trying to be objective, and keeping the 70's out of it......
just looking at the Steelers and Patriots of this decade, who do you see 15 years from now as being Hall of Famers from the 2 champions. For the Steelers I can see Bettis,Cowher, Ward, Roethlisburger, Polamulo. You guys fill in the blanks as you know more about the potential of your younger players. For the Patriots I have Belichick, Brady, Seymour, Law, Vinatieri, Dillon (IF he has 2 more big seasons) and the "if they reach their potential" younger players being Wilfork, Watson, and Branch.

Dillon's on the down-swing of his career already...he won't make it. I don't quite see Law making it either. Hines Ward could make it...but I doubt that he will. Other than that, I agree.

trying to be objective, and keeping the 70's out of it......
just looking at the Steelers and Patriots of this decade, who do you see 15 years from now as being Hall of Famers from the 2 champions. For the Steelers I can see Bettis,Cowher, Ward, Roethlisburger, Polamulo. You guys fill in the blanks as you know more about the potential of your younger players. For the Patriots I have Belichick, Brady, Seymour, Law, Vinatieri, Dillon (IF he has 2 more big seasons) and the "if they reach their potential" younger players being Wilfork, Watson, and Branch.

ix-nay on watson and branch. dont rally know enough about wilfork so i will say no on him too hes really good but just not game changing or mentionned amongst the best at his position yet.. i think h. miller will be just as good if not better pro than watson and im not yet ready to call miller a hall of famer.

while i think brady and belichick are locks, if it werent for a vinatieri kick(s) vs. oakland or tennessee we could be talking about the pats as 1x sb champs. not to mention how he didnt norwood it during the sb. he will be the most heralded kicker to make it into the hall.

ben has said it is his goal to be a hall of famer and to be mentionned along with the best ever. hes got the drive and the talent. he just needs a few more rings or about 10 more years as a farve like starter. injuries could derail his dreams. otherwise i think if the steelers are having down years they will just keep on opening the playbook for him which will just drive his individual numbers up.

faneca has been looked at as one of the best of his position for quite a few years. the respect that he has earned and his pro bowl appearances speak for themselves. he is a possibility but o-lineman arent exactly the sexy pick for the hall.

c. hampton probably wont make it because there are no numbers to speak of his career. he is one of the best at his position and what he does though. an integral cog to the steelers success.

hines just needs to play out his contract.

jerome is as good as in.

cowher has many years left and i think with his record over the next 5-10 years he wouldve made it with or without the ring.

polamalu just needs to keep healthy and playing. he is changing the way the game is played right befor our eyes. his 3 year carrer isnt enough by itself but if he can keep doing this for the next 10 i would say hes 1st ballot.

with law and dillon i dont think they are or should be 1st ballot. im not sure dillon even makes it in. harrison may have a better shot than these 2. i am still amazed at the outrage of m. irvin not making it in yet.

like the steelers coaches hartings has successfully replaced 2 legends. he wont get hall recognition but deserves to go into the steelers hall of fame.

As far as the young guns on both sides go, it makes it very difficult to predict.

Polamalu could redefine the position of SS over the next few years.
Heath Miller has had a nice first year.

Ben Watson will be an animal next year - but will one Pats receiver ever get enough of the ball to get sufficient numbers?

The only way Branch gets in is with one or two more excellent postseason/SB appearances - a tough ask.

I would love to see Dillon in - he was a great servant to an extremely poor franchise for a number of years and put up excellent numbers - 1st year in a good team and he wins it all.

NM

__________________
They've been great for a while now, three Super Bowls' worth of great. But only this season have the New England Patriots become The Show, the must-see team of stars, pretty boys and reformed bad boys. Suddenly, the Patriots are not simply great; they're compelling, fascinating, appearing to be almighty and a touch lawless.
The Patriots didn't bother with swagger to start this NFL season; they went straight to defiant. Either you're one of them or you're about to get crushed.

trying to be objective, and keeping the 70's out of it......
just looking at the Steelers and Patriots of this decade, who do you see 15 years from now as being Hall of Famers from the 2 champions. For the Steelers I can see Bettis,Cowher, Ward, Roethlisburger, Polamulo. You guys fill in the blanks as you know more about the potential of your younger players. For the Patriots I have Belichick, Brady, Seymour, Law, Vinatieri, Dillon (IF he has 2 more big seasons) and the "if they reach their potential" younger players being Wilfork, Watson, and Branch.

and would like to add Heath Miller as a young one who could keep getting better.

ix-nay on watson and branch. dont rally know enough about wilfork so i will say no on him too hes really good but just not game changing or mentionned amongst the best at his position yet.. i think h. miller will be just as good if not better pro than watson and im not yet ready to call miller a hall of famer.

while i think brady and belichick are locks, if it werent for a vinatieri kick(s) vs. oakland or tennessee we could be talking about the pats as 1x sb champs. not to mention how he didnt norwood it during the sb. he will be the most heralded kicker to make it into the hall.

ben has said it is his goal to be a hall of famer and to be mentionned along with the best ever. hes got the drive and the talent. he just needs a few more rings or about 10 more years as a farve like starter. injuries could derail his dreams. otherwise i think if the steelers are having down years they will just keep on opening the playbook for him which will just drive his individual numbers up.

faneca has been looked at as one of the best of his position for quite a few years. the respect that he has earned and his pro bowl appearances speak for themselves. he is a possibility but o-lineman arent exactly the sexy pick for the hall.

c. hampton probably wont make it because there are no numbers to speak of his career. he is one of the best at his position and what he does though. an integral cog to the steelers success.

hines just needs to play out his contract.

jerome is as good as in.

cowher has many years left and i think with his record over the next 5-10 years he wouldve made it with or without the ring.

polamalu just needs to keep healthy and playing. he is changing the way the game is played right befor our eyes. his 3 year carrer isnt enough by itself but if he can keep doing this for the next 10 i would say hes 1st ballot.

with law and dillon i dont think they are or should be 1st ballot. im not sure dillon even makes it in. harrison may have a better shot than these 2. i am still amazed at the outrage of m. irvin not making it in yet.

like the steelers coaches hartings has successfully replaced 2 legends. he wont get hall recognition but deserves to go into the steelers hall of fame.

the idea of my question was not just assessing what has already happened, but to take into consideration pure potential. im not saying Watson, Branch, or Wilfork have reached even star status NOW (although Branch is close and you got to hand it to a guy who played back to back SB's like THAT). But when you look at raw talent, i think Watson could be a monster. This year Wilfork really solidified the middle and has that rare NT talent for effective pass rushing. And if Branch can keep up what hes been doing for 6 or 7 seasons hes going to have great numbers.
Heath Miller and Faneca are guys i definately should have mentioned.